Ini Billie, Uyo
The former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang has denied claims of his expulsion from the All Progressives Congress Party (APC).
This follows reports that the State Working Committee of the APC in Akwa Ibom State ratified recommendations of the party’s Disciplinary Committee against Enang which was signed by the state party chairman, Mr Leo Steven Ntukekpo.
The expulsion of Enang was premised on “gross anti-party activities” allegedly written and submitted to the state party leadership by his Ward Chairman in Eastern Ward 2, Ibiono Ibom local government area, Akwa Ibom State.
The former senator according to the letter was said to be “holding clandestine meetings with the ruling PDP in the State with a view to undermine the APC’s chances in the general elections and had done so in defiance of the directives of the party”.
Enang had taken the party to court following his disagreement with the APC primaries which resulted in the emergence of Akanimo Udofia as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
The litigations resulted in the Court of Appeal affirming Akanimo Udofia as the authentic governorship candidate of the party for the governorship elections but Enang has already said he would take the case to the Supreme Court.
As a result, the party came up with the expulsion letter which disarmed Enang from proceeding with the litigation against the party and its candidate as he ceases to be a member of the APC.
However, Enang has referred to the claims of his expulsion from the party as fake news and urged party members to disregard the notice.
In a press release signed and made available to our correspondent on Wednesday in Uyo, Enang called on party members to defend the party’s aspirations in the general elections.
He encouraged them to work together to receive President Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s Presidential candidate and Vice-Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Shettima respectively and other national party leaders to Akwa Ibom State on January 30 in Uyo.
“I urge all leaders and teeming members of our great party to please ignore same and continue working with me and all other party leaders and members of the party for the success of the party in all the elections.
“I am urged my party aspiring members not to defend the party from acquisition and not to defend myself in suits instituted in court against me.
“I urge our members to please cooperate and work together to receive our President, H.E, President Buhari and our Presidential Candidate H. E Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima and all our party national leaders in the state APC presidential rally coming up on January 30th 2023, at Uyo.
“We should please focus on mobilising for the rally and not be distracted by irrelevancies,” he stated.